This song really speaks to me:
"A thousand times I've failed...
still I'm caught in your grace.
Your will above else, my purpose remains:
the art of losing myself in bringing You praise"
My heart and my soul, I give you control,
Consume me from the inside out, Lord..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f34F7e3d0_Y
"Search my heart, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Ps. 139:23-24
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Reflection
I came across these questions in a recent blog I read and was challenged to consider each one at the end of my every day. The honest answers at times are, well, can I say embarrassing...perhaps regretful is a better answer. The journey that I am on is so much more than moving, mothering, being a good wife, and finding a job. It has gone into a deeper sense of personal reflection...and confession.
TWENTY-TWO SELF EXAMINATION QUESTIONS
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am
better than I really am?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Am I am slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
7. Did the Bible live in me today?
8. Do I give it time to speak to me every day?
9. Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13. Do I disobey God in anything?
14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the
Pharisees who despised the publican?
20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize hold a
resentment toward or despise?
21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?
(These are the 22 questions the members of the Holy Club, to which JOHN
WESLEY belonged, asked themselves each day as a part of their daily
devotions.)
As I reflect for myself...what I see in NOT pretty, but the real question is what am I going to do about it? Friends, pray with me and take the 22 Questions Challenge for yourself.
TWENTY-TWO SELF EXAMINATION QUESTIONS
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am
better than I really am?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Am I am slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
7. Did the Bible live in me today?
8. Do I give it time to speak to me every day?
9. Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13. Do I disobey God in anything?
14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the
Pharisees who despised the publican?
20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize hold a
resentment toward or despise?
21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?
(These are the 22 questions the members of the Holy Club, to which JOHN
WESLEY belonged, asked themselves each day as a part of their daily
devotions.)
As I reflect for myself...what I see in NOT pretty, but the real question is what am I going to do about it? Friends, pray with me and take the 22 Questions Challenge for yourself.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Crosswinds Update
Hi friends--
We want to take this blog and fill you in on what is happening with Crosswinds Church. Our team which currently consists of five families, is in research and planning mode. We have mapped out our "to do" list for the coming months...
We want to take this blog and fill you in on what is happening with Crosswinds Church. Our team which currently consists of five families, is in research and planning mode. We have mapped out our "to do" list for the coming months...
- we are in prayer for clarity and direction
- we have scheduled "Meet and Greet" times at a home association called Magnolia Greens, Leland, NC
- we are looking into resonably priced commercial space in the Leland area
- we are working on a website/promotional materials
- we are brainstorming children's ministry models/plans
- we are surveying people in the community to discover needs
- we are exploring unique marketing ideas to get the WORD out
- we are teaming up with a local ministry to help with the homeless
- we are seeking a balance between faith and financial risk
- we are building relationships
- we are meeting every Sunday after attending a local church to pray, discuss, and fellowship
- we are brainstorming "Community Bridge Events" where we can get out into the community and serve the needs
- we are seeking more partners who can team with us through giving and praying
We are so grateful for each of your prayers on our behalf. This is such a HUGE endeavor, one that we (in human strength and resources) cannot do. But we do know that with God all things are possible and that ETERNITY lies in the balance for people we have not even met yet. Our five families can give our time, energy, and resources, but I believe our limited resources can be multiplied through your giving and prayers.
Please pray with us:
- for opportunity in building relationships
- for clarity of what God wants us to accomplish
- for team unity and vision
- for maximized impact in focus areas
- for divinely suited location (visibility, space for growth, reasonably priced)
- for courage, perserverance, and creativity
- for effective "marketing" strategies to reach families new to the area
Thank you in advance for partnering with us and with Crosswinds Church to reach families in Leland, NC for Christ. If you'd like to know how you can help us financially or with a specific short term project, just email us at mcjepratt@ec.rr.com. We'd be thrilled to partner with you!
Monday, September 8, 2008
Not in 'Kansas' anymore!
As I've had some time, I've been working out on the treadmill with my shuffle ipod. I've intentionally filled it with worship songs to help me focus and reflect... and to listen. It seems that I have to be so intentional about listening. God has spoken to me repeatedly in the "sweaty" moments, he has confirmed to me that "He does all things well". ALL THINGS. That includes all that is happening in our lives here, He is giving us His very best. It's just that our thoughts of "best" are often the opposite of what we might see as His best for us. It's been a deeper realization that "God works all things for good."
We experienced our first "hurricane" this weekend and were reminded of God's amazing power, His endless creativity, and His unexplainable sovereignity. The storm turned out to be much weaker than expected...we were out of power for just a few hours during the night. All is all, it was another moment when we looked at each other and said "we're not in Kansas (New York) anymore!"
Beside the hurricane, we are still adjusting to "time in the South" and how that affects everyday life. Even though school started two weeks ago, I have had 3 interviews in the last week and have applied for a handful of other positions in education. Doesn't it seem that these positions should have been filled BEFORE school started? Actually in NC, the state reevaluates staffing after the 10th day of school and may hire more staff at that point. So right now we're going through open doors until they are shut. I had a great interview for an ESL (English as a Second Language) position last Thursday and today I interviewed for a 4th grade teacher position at another magnet school here in Wilmington, just 5 minutes from our apartment. I am taking a licensure exam on Saturday in order to add the ESL to my existing license. I guess in the next week or so we'll be making some decisions about my employment.
John and Lizzie are both doing well at school...jumping up and down for a "free" day off from school on Friday due to the impending hurricane. John has been placed in an advanced/gifted math class. He is excited and proud. Soccer is coming along, we've been battling weather, thus his first game was cancelled over the weekend. Lizzie will start dance class tomorrow...both ballet and tap/jazz. She is thrilled! Both kids are swimming independently and working on their tennis game....on the court and on the Wii :)
Mark is studying for midterms this week...he is back to balancing work, studies, and family--- and doing it well. At one point last week, he said he missed mowing lawn....and perhaps his tractor? Apartment living is a bit confining at times for both men in the family... and requires little in the line of power tools or "good hard work."
Crosswinds Church is taking shape. We're planning our first event for October... hosting a "meet and greet" time at a local, growing housing development in Leland. We hoping to gauge interest and make contacts. I'll be telling you more about Crosswinds in my next post.
Until then, thanks for checking up on us and for praying for our family. We appreciate your concerns about the hurricane and your ongoing emails that encourage us--more than you realize! You, our friends and family, are precious to us!
We experienced our first "hurricane" this weekend and were reminded of God's amazing power, His endless creativity, and His unexplainable sovereignity. The storm turned out to be much weaker than expected...we were out of power for just a few hours during the night. All is all, it was another moment when we looked at each other and said "we're not in Kansas (New York) anymore!"
Beside the hurricane, we are still adjusting to "time in the South" and how that affects everyday life. Even though school started two weeks ago, I have had 3 interviews in the last week and have applied for a handful of other positions in education. Doesn't it seem that these positions should have been filled BEFORE school started? Actually in NC, the state reevaluates staffing after the 10th day of school and may hire more staff at that point. So right now we're going through open doors until they are shut. I had a great interview for an ESL (English as a Second Language) position last Thursday and today I interviewed for a 4th grade teacher position at another magnet school here in Wilmington, just 5 minutes from our apartment. I am taking a licensure exam on Saturday in order to add the ESL to my existing license. I guess in the next week or so we'll be making some decisions about my employment.
John and Lizzie are both doing well at school...jumping up and down for a "free" day off from school on Friday due to the impending hurricane. John has been placed in an advanced/gifted math class. He is excited and proud. Soccer is coming along, we've been battling weather, thus his first game was cancelled over the weekend. Lizzie will start dance class tomorrow...both ballet and tap/jazz. She is thrilled! Both kids are swimming independently and working on their tennis game....on the court and on the Wii :)
Mark is studying for midterms this week...he is back to balancing work, studies, and family--- and doing it well. At one point last week, he said he missed mowing lawn....and perhaps his tractor? Apartment living is a bit confining at times for both men in the family... and requires little in the line of power tools or "good hard work."
Crosswinds Church is taking shape. We're planning our first event for October... hosting a "meet and greet" time at a local, growing housing development in Leland. We hoping to gauge interest and make contacts. I'll be telling you more about Crosswinds in my next post.
Until then, thanks for checking up on us and for praying for our family. We appreciate your concerns about the hurricane and your ongoing emails that encourage us--more than you realize! You, our friends and family, are precious to us!
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